Kant and the Problem of Metaphysics, Fifth Edition, Enlarged

It is primarily and for the most part a readable translation of some very difficult to translate, much less understand and appropriate, esoteric thought. An absolute must read for any would-be Heideggerians, and not a bad place to get some insight into Kant at the same time.

A masterpiece in its own right.

Intended to be part of `Being and Time', but published separately and after BT. Heidegger's intention for `Kant and The Problem of Metaphysics' is straight forward; that is, Rational-Cognitive subjectivity (as presented in Kant's `Critique of Pure Reason') is not a tenable basis for metaphysics. Why? Because `time' alone can provide a foundation for metaphysics; thereby, dispensing with Reason, subjectivity and the rest of Kant's transcendental machinery. Heidegger claims to have `found Kant out'; that is, earlier editions of Kant's Critique has time as a much more important notion. Heidegger accuses Kant of recoiling from the primacy of time, and goes on to demonstrate that time is the basis of any possible metaphysics; to be carried out as a fundamental ontology via `Being and Time'. Watch out for Heidegger's own recoil regarding spatiality and its relation to time.

This is perhaps the second most important text from Heidegger behind the monumental Being and Time. Where Being and Time ends abruptly without venturing into the destruction of the history of western ontology, the "Kant book" appears to be a sketch of the possible direction of Heidegger's fundamental ontology. Surprisingly enough, Heidegger offers a rather faithful exegesis of Kant's discussion of the schematism from the Critique of Pure Reason. This is a close and careful reading of Kant which demonstrates Heidegger's skill at reconstruction of an existing text. The short Part One of this book is a work of art as Heidegger clearly defines Kant's project as a groundwork for metaphysics, that is, as ontology, by tracing the initial remarks by Kant to their Greek and scholastic origins. Therefore, Heidegger argues that the Kant of the First Critique does not bring forth a theory of knowledge (and against the Prolegomena that Kant is making a foundation for science), but rather, that the real project is a critique of metaphysics by returning to ontology as the groundwork for metaphysics. Thus, this project runs straight into Heidegger's own concerns of the possibility of anthropology.Included in this edition is a transcript of the historical (and highly entertaining) debate between Heidegger and Ernst Cassier from the Davos lectures. Along with this, the editors have included other illuminating notes, drafts, and forwards.Whether for or against Heidegger, this book clearly demonstrates the enormous philosophical skills of Martin Heidegger.